iOS 10, watchOS 3 and macOS Sierra both introduced some really great new features for Apple Messages users. One of these is the ability to "react" to a message with a quick tap, letting the sender know how you feel about it easily. You just have to know how to access the reaction or "Tapback" menu before you can use it, and then you'll be able to send simple reactions to messages in no time.

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Steps

1

Ensure your Apple device is up to date. If you're using a mobile device, you'll need iOS 10 at least, but the newer, the better. If you have an Apple Watch, you'll need at least the watchOS update 3.0 that was released in September 2016! On a computer, you'll need to update to macOS Sierra.

Keep in mind that non-Apple users might not receive the reaction. Other Apple Messages users won't have problems seeing your tapback or reaction, but those on other phones may not see them, or they might be delivered as text instead of a reaction icon/bubble. Some may even be sent, but in unreadable babble (with miscellaneous Wingding-like symbols filling the message).

2

Open the Messages app to give feedback. You can't send Tapbacks from the notifications area; you must be inside the Messages app to send your reaction.

3

Receive a message on your device. You can actually react to your own message, too, but most people will add Tapbacks for messages that others have sent them.

4

Locate the message you'd like to give feedback on.

5

Select and hold the message until a small horizontal strip appears above it. You'll see a range of icons next to and above the message you clicked on: a heart, a thumbs up hand, a thumbs-down hand, a "ha ha" (for funny), two exclamation marks (for excitement or critical) and a question mark for (for wondering or questioning).

6

Tap the choice from the bar that best denotes your reaction. They'll instantly see a little grey bubble appear on the upper corner of the message showing the icon you picked.

If you're in a group message and aren't sure who sent what reaction, just click on the icon (heart, thumbs up, question mark, etc). This will open a strip at the top of the screen that shows you who sent each reaction.

7

Verify that your reaction was recorded. Once you see the message present you with a blue bubble in the top right corner, your reaction was recorded.